Visiting Grandpa and Grandma in Denver

We found out Grandpa Don had a conference in Denver he was going to, so we swapped a few things around so we could spend a couple days with them. :)

We drove up Monday morning, and of course, being from Lamar with few restaurant choice, we immediately hit up Cafe Rio for lunch.  In Steve's words, "I could have eaten that till I puked".  Nothing like Cafe Rio!

We met up with Grandpa and Grandma and went straight for the pool.  We had a great time.  Rowland wanted to stay in the hot tub the entire time and kept trying to either climb in, or pull off the lids of the filters.  Too bad for him being the young age of 1 - no hot tubs for him!

We cleaned ourselves up and then Steve and I ran to Target to do some shopping (have I mentioned we live in boony town with limited options).  I may or may not have dropped some heavy cash there giving Steve a bit of a heart attack, but I was extremely pleased with my findings.  Then we went to Carrabba's for dinner.  I forgot we don't have Italian food in Lamar either (can you see how obsessed with food we are when we can't have all the options all the time???) and we pretty much licked our plates clean and had at least 6 loaves of their bread with olive oil and herbs. :)  The kids did pretty well, except Rowland is the king of getting out of his high chairs (I think it's because he's so little).  
 

This baby had to catch naps when he could since we were everywhere.  Steve has also decided this would be his preferred mode of transportation.  :)

We headed back to the hotel and got all the kids settled down to sleep...including Steve. ;)
 

Love Love LOVE this picture!!!

We did some planning for our future Disneyland trip and then called it a night...or so we thought.

Rowland decided to get up a couple hours later and after two more hours of trying to sleep with him in our bed and him crawling all over us, we finally got him back to sleep.

Early the next morning Steve and I went to the beautiful Denver Temple to do some initiatories.  We haven't done those in a long time, and it was wonderful to be refreshed in all the covenants and blessings that God promises us.  
 

Love that I get to be with this guy for eternity!

When we got back I did a little more shopping - because I could - and then we gathered everyone up and headed to the Nature and Science Museum.  It was fantastic!
 

Cute Grandma with a cute baby trying to be a toddler. Stop growing!!

The robot exhibit was really fun to see.  We watched robots play soccer, climb stairs, mimic facial expressions, play Black Jack, climb ladders, pick up objects, and we saw the ones that perform surgeries, fly, and even got to build our own...and even dress up like them!  Very cool.
 

They had robot seals to be comfort "animals" to people - it would mimic baby seals.

This robot could wave, do karate, headstands, bow, and even do pushups!

Robot kids!

We also went to the chocolate exhibit and saw how the evolution of chocolate came about.  They were pretty sneaky in putting a chocolate shop right outside.  So of course we had to sample a few chocolates.  

We finished the museum with looking at some of the animals.  Rowland loved wandering around everywhere - they had it so open and baby friendly - I loved it.  Ruby loved pushing all the buttons that would make the animal's sounds.  

Moose head!

Next time we'll see the rest of the museum.  We got a family member pass so we'll definitely be going back, AND we can bring friends. ;)

We finished our quick trip with Five Guys burgers, and just like that we had to say good-bye again.  It was definitely a fun couple of days!

April Foolin' Around and Conference Weekend!

SO - this April Fools with our kids was HILARIOUS.  Ross was NOT amused, but Ruby thought it was pretty funny. :) 

Once Ross caught on to what April Fools was, he was foolin' all day long.  We called all our Grandpa and Grandmas, Aunts and Uncles, and even Daddy at work to April Fools them! From things like "I broke my arm!" to "I lost a tooth" to "My firetruck is in the garbage!" And then I got it about every other sentence for most of the day. :)  He was definitely tickled at the idea of April Foolsing everyone. :)

We did a few other things as well. 

We've been working on our backyard for weeks now, getting it ready to replant the grass.  The sprinkler system has been a bit tricky trying to figure it out and re-lay some of the lines.  Steve rocked it though.  We're just about ready to put the grass in finally!

A rare picture of Ruby looking and smiling! With the cutest pockets and pigtails. :)  Her hair is getting long!

Teaching Rowland how to do the shape drop. ;)

Rowland in his tribute to England gear ;)

Rowland never stays still anymore!

General Conference came and we thoroughly enjoyed the weekend of it (even though our laptop that streamed it overheated).  Rowland was looking up watching for a few minutes - and of course I JUST missed it by the time I got the camera out.

In between sessions, we started up the sprinklers to try and get this grass green again...the kids thought it was summer...even Rowland.

Sunday, our computer overheated while Conference was going, so we resorted to the iPad.  It was still wonderful. :)

Popcorn and Conference - great ways to get your kids to sit and listen. :)

We did some bike riding too on Ross's new wheels. :)

I just love this girl's eyes!!  So big and blue!

We got some silly lunch shenanigans  going on at one point...

Ross started Spring soccer again.  We're excited for another season!

Rowland also likes to carry around this toy sword everywhere he goes.  He even makes sound effects when he's trying to swing it around.

We went to a school's carnival where Ross will be going to kindergarten next year (I can't handle that idea by the way).  The bounce house was the biggest hit!

We made off like bandits.  We did the cake walk twice and won cakes BOTH times.  I also won some cute platters from silent auction.  AND the kids rocked this hilarious game. :)

As Ruby loves to dress up all the time - here is the latest trend - hats and bags.  Our little bag lady :)

And yet another place we found Ruby sleeping.  It's all over the place!

 

Happy Easter 2016

Easter decided to fall at the end of March this year.  I seem to have beef with that.  I feel like it belongs in April.  Everything ended up being squashed into March - St. Patrick's, Ross's birthday, and Easter.  There were three decoration changes that all occurred within a week.  Not cool. ;)

A few things beforehand:

Ruby has been falling asleep in random places...today's place of choice was arching over the stairs.  HOW is that comfortable??

You would THINK the couch would be comfortable...but I'm just not feelin' it in this position.

We also love Romp Around at the gym on Mondays.  Rowland is really starting to get into it. :)

Ruby's Auntie Meghan had a snuggie with her when they came to visit.  Ruby found my old robe and decided it was her snuggie now. :)

We acquired a new swimsuit and a couple books...and Ruby now thinks it's time for summer.  She asks me before bed every night if "when we wake up, we get to go swimming?" Someday I'll be able to say yes. ;)

I took the kids for an Easter Egg hunt at the park with our MOPS group.  It was short and sweet, and the kids got WAY too much candy.  

 

"What did you want me to do with the egg???"

So many eggs, they spilled...guess she has to eat the candy right now so it doesn't spoil right??

Ross's load...also workin' the old man peering over the glasses look too :)

Trying to save her eggs from the menace little brother!

GOT it!  Now....how do you open it?

Gotta...get...more...eggs

Rowland just wondered what all the hullabaloo was about with these eggs lying around.  Last year he just slept in my Moby - so I guess that's progress. ;)

We did manage to dye some eggs, and then had a little Easter basket and egg hunt in our house, dressed up for Church, and then had a fun dinner with friends afterwards.  

The Baymax egg

It was the coveted one this year.

Dollin' up for Easter Sunday's outfit.

Taking Easter picture outside....fail - darn sun being too bright.

Cutie brothers :)

This is the best I could get on a time crunch before Church.  Let's be honest - they would have all looked ragged if we would have waited till after Church.

After the hunt!

Everyone won!

After dinner...life is rough when you're not tall enough to open the door and go out to play with the big kids...

Even with all the squashing in of the holiday, I love remembering the most beautiful part of the Atonement of our Savior, Jesus Christ - His resurrection.  That is what makes the Atonement complete - that is the promise of eternal life, the joy, the happiness - all of it - complete.  I know our Savior lives.  I know we cannot fail if we keep trying and always seek to have a true and honest heart.  I'm grateful for the resurrection.  I'm grateful that as my son asks me about death and heaven, that I know without a doubt - what our purpose here is, and that death is not the end - and that I can reassure him that we can all be together again.  Christ lives. I love Easter!